ANNAN Athletic manager Wullie Gibson hopes to agree a ‘loan cooperation’ with a Scottish Premiership team.
The newly launched system could greatly benefit both Annan Athletic and Scottish football, with the Scottish Football Association introducing the cooperation to help young footballers get game time.
As recently described by the Scottish Football Association, the new Cooperation System ‘provides greater flexibility to the previous domestic loan quotas by enabling players aged 16-21, who are eligible to represent the Scotland national teams, to join a lower-league club but be able to move between the parent and cooperation club throughout the season’.
‘A club can place a maximum of three players on a ‘Cooperation List’ and these players can move freely between the parent club and the club who they are in a Cooperation Agreement with.
‘So, for example, if the parent club has injuries in the player’s position, they can recall the player, provided they give the minimum prescribed amount of notice to the cooperation club. The parent club pays the salary for the player and – unlike with loan deals – they maintain the player’s registration’.
This news comes after Athletic confirmed Paul McGowan, Ryan Muir, Dan Carmichael and Max Kilsby had all agreed new deals to stay with the club as they target a successful season in League Two.
Following the addition of the above quartet, the Black and Golds have 14 players on the books, including Gibson, ahead of pre-season getting underway next week.
Speaking to club media, Gibson said: “(I’m) delighted to keep a large part of last season’s squad together. Sometimes you see a mass clear out following relegation but I’ve seen a lot of positives individually and collectively from these players last season.
“I know the qualities of the guys I’ve kept but I also know where they need to improve.
“So, with that, it does make it slightly easier to identify the players or the areas we need to improve the squad for next season.”
Gibson added: “I’m in discussions with a couple of players who I think would be excellent additions but we have to be patient as with all good players there is interest from other clubs.
“I’m also hopeful of agreeing a loan cooperation with an SPL side this week.
“I’m really pleased with the way things are shaping up with pre-season starting next week.”
Athletic have also announced they will play Queen’s Park in a friendly at Lesser Hampden on Tuesday June 24, the match will kick off at 7.30 pm.
